SHEILA MACRAE

September 24, 1921

Sheila Margaret Stephens was born in London in 1921, but evacuated with her parents to Long Island, New York, in 1939, shortly before the onset of World War II. She became a naturalized US citizen in March 1959.

In 1941, she married actor and singer Gordon MacRae. They often appeared on the stage together. They were the parents of two daughters, actresses Heather and Meredith MacRae, and two sons, William Gordon MacRae and Robert Bruce MacRae. The couple divorced in 1967.

Using her maiden name, Sheila made her screen debut in her husband’s film Backfire in 1950. It was quickly followed by three more 1950 films: Caged, Pretty Baby, and Katie Did It.  

Her TV debut came in February 23, 1953 with “The Romantic Type”, an installment of NBC’s “Hollywood Opening Night” anthology series hosted by Jimmy Fidler.  

Two months later, in April 1953, she appeared on “The Jackie Gleason Show” as a guest. On that same show, Gleason did a “Honeymooners” sketch starring Audrey Meadows as Alice Kramden. Little did MacRae know then that she would take over the role in 1966 and play her until 1970. Coincidentally, the episode where she made her “Honeymooners” debut also featured Pert Kelton as Alice’s Mother. Kelton originated the role of Alice Kramden in 1951, before “The Honeymooners” was made into a series. In January 1954, Gordon MacRae was guest host for “The Jackie Gleason Show” while Gleason was on vacation and invited his Sheila on as a special guest. 

All of MacRae’s color “Honeymooner” co-stars eventually worked with Lucille Ball:

• Jackie Gleason (Ralph Kramden) ~ Did a cameo as Ralph Kramden on the second episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1968. He also played opposite Ball in “Three for Two” in 1975.

• Art Carney (Ed Norton) ~ Did two Lucille Ball Specials: “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” (1974) and “What Now, Catherine Curtis?” (1976). 

• Jane Kean (Trixie Norton) ~ Guest starred in a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show” titled “Lucy and the Soap Opera” (TLS S4;E19). 

On September 29, 1954, Sheila and Gordon MacRae and Lucy and Desi Arnaz were on the red carpet for the star-studded premiere of the film A Star Is Born. Live television interviews from the Pantages Theatre later appeared as bonus material for the film’s DVD. 

Two months later she filmed “The Fashion Show” (ILL S4;E20) playing herself opposite fashion designer Don Loper. On the show and in real life, MacRae was a founding member of S.H.A.R.E., a charitable organization formed by wives of Hollywood celebrities.

Although she organizes the charity fashion show for Loper, MacRae does not participate in it.

MacRae and Ball did not appear on the same program again until 1966 with “Jackie Gleason’s 51st Birthday Celebration”. 

In 1967 MacRae married Ronald Wayne, a television producer who also worked extensively with Gleason.

MacRae’s last dramatic screen role was on an April 1993 episode of “Murder She Wrote” starring Angela Lansbury and featuring Neil Patrick Harris. 

MacRae died suddenly in March 2014 in Englewood, New Jersey, aged 92, at the Lillian Booth Actor’s Home. 

“She lived a good life and she lived a long time.” ~ Allison Mullavey, granddaughter